The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Rides Hot Streak Into Dallas To Take On SMU
1/15/2010 12:00:00β―AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2010
UAB-SMU Game Notes | Gametracker | Watch
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's basketball team will return to action this weekend when it travels to Dallas, Texas to take on the SMU Mustangs on Saturday night at 7 p.m. CT. The game can be heard live on the Blazers ISP Sports Network, WUHT 107.7 FM, with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT.
UAB enters the match up at SMU sporting an overall record of 14-2 and a 2-0 mark in Conference USA. Most recently, the Blazers captured their 13th victory over the last 14 games with a 58-49 win at Tulane last Saturday. Junior guard Elijah Millsap collected his league-leading ninth double-double of the season, collecting 13 points and 10 rebounds, while senior forward Howard Crawford added 13 points and seven boards in the winning effort.
Millsap comes into this weekend's contest leading UAB in scoring (17.0 ppg), rebounding (9.9 rpg), steals (2.0 spg) and free throws made (82) and attempted (116) entering Saturday's game. He also leads C-USA in double-doubles and rebounding and is fifth in scoring. The Louisiana-Lafayette transfer has led the Blazers in scoring and/or rebounding in 14 of their 16 games this season.
Crawford is second on the team with 12.8 points per contest, while junior guard Jamarr Sanders adds 11.2 ppg and leads the team in three-pointers made (34) and attempted (85). Junior point guard Aaron Johnson adds 9.3 points and leads the team in assists (4.2).
As a team, the Blazers are shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc on the year. UAB also boasts a +7.3 advantage on the boards (37.5-30.2). Furthermore, the Blazers are holding the opposition to 59.4 points a game and have held 12 of their 16 opponents to 64 points or below.
UAB head coach Mike Davis is now in his fourth season at the helm of the Blazers' basketball program and his 10th season as a head coach. He boasts a record of 74-41 (.643) at UAB and a 189-120 (.612) record overall.
SMU comes into Saturday's contest with a 6-9 overall mark, including an 0-2 mark in C-USA play, and are 5-4 in home contests this season. The Mustangs are coming off a 63-56 defeat against Tulsa in their league home opener last Wednesday night. SMU was led by Mouhammad Faye's 17 points, while Papa Dia recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
The Mustangs are led on the season by senior guard Derek Williams, who leads the team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and assists (3.1 apg). Faye a senior forward, ranks second on the team in both scoring (12.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg), while Dia, a junior forward, is third on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg) and leads the squad with 8.5 rebounds a game.
Sophomore guard Paul McCoy, who lit UAB up last season for a career-high 29 points, leads the team in steals, (24), ranks second in assists (2.7 apg) and is fourth in scoring (8.8 ppg).
As a team, the Mustangs are averaging 68.2 points a game and outscoring the competition by 1.7 points per contest (68.2-66-5). SMU is also shooting 45.8 percent from the floor and 31.4 percent from beyond the arc. Furthermore, the Mustangs lead the conference in defensive rebounds, allowing opponents to average 29.3 boards a game.
Head coach Matt Doherty is in his fourth season at SMU and in his ninth season as a head coach. During his coaching tenure with the Mustangs, Doherty has a record of 39-65 (.375) during his time at the helm of the SMU men's basketball program. He is 129-138 (.438) during his nine seasons as a head coach.
UAB vs. SMU: The Series
UAB and SMU will meet for the sixth time in series history when the two teams take the court on Saturday night. The Blazers currently hold a 4-2 lead in the all-time series, including a perfect 2-0 mark at Moody Coliseum. Last season in Bartow Arena, UAB held on to a 78-75 victory behind Lawrence Kinnard's 22 points. SMU's Paul McCoy led all scorers in that contest with 29 points in the losing effort.
Last Time Out
Elijah Millsap scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Howard Crawford added 13 points to help UAB beat Tulane 58-49 last Saturday night at Fogelman Arena. The win for the Blazers came in the 1,000th all-time game for UAB.
The Blazers have won five in a row against Tulane and eight of the last nine games in the series. It was the Blazers' third straight win and 13 out of their last 14.
The Blazers led by nine at halftime, 27-18, and led by at least six points in the second half. Cameron Moore hit a free throw with 12 seconds remaining to give the Blazers their biggest lead of the game at 58-46.
Tulane got 17 points off 18 Blazer turnovers, but shot only 36.2 percent (17 of 47) for the game. Trent Rogers had four steals for the Green Wave.
Tied For Third-Best Start In School History
Following the 58-49 victory at Tulane last Saturday, the Blazers were off to a 14-2 start to the season, which is tied for the second-best start in school history in terms of overall record. Below is a chart of the best starts in school history and where this year's team ranks on that list.
Season Start Final Record Postseason
1993-94 16-2 22-8 NCAA
1985-86 16-2 25-11 NCAA
2009-10 14-2 ??? ???
1991-92 14-2 20-9 NIT
1983-84 14-2 23-11 NCAA
50-Something
UAB held Tulane to 49 points in the Blazers' 58-49 victory last Saturday. It was the second time this season it has held an opponent to under 50 points (47 by Cincinnati on Dec. 16). In fact, when UAB holds the opposition to 50 or fewer points, it is usually a good thing. The Blazers have an overall record of 57-5 when it happens, including a perfect 13-0 mark under Mike Davis. The last time UAB lost when giving up 50 or fewer points came on Jan. 12, 2002, when the Blazers fell at Southern Miss, 50-36.
Mr. Double-Double
After collecting his ninth double-double of the season when UAB defeated Tulane last Saturday night (13 points and 10 rebounds), junior guard Elijah Millsap is on pace to etch his name in the UAB record books for double-doubles in a single season. Through UAB's first 16 games, Millsap leads Conference USA with his nine double-doubles, which ranks him in a tie for sixth on the school's all-time list for double-doubles in a season. On the year, he is averaging a near double-double with 17.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest. Below is a breakdown of the most double-doubles in a single season and where Millsap currently ranks on that list.
Player Year Double-Doubles
Lawrence Kinnard 2008-09 13
Carlos Williams 1995-96 13
Carlos Williams 1996-97 13
Jerome Mincy 1985-86 11
Reginald Turner 1988-89 10
Elijah Millsap 2009-10 9
Will Campbell 2001-02 9
